Chaps Take Second in State; Qualify for Western Regional Championship Tournament
The Chaps lost the first time this season in the State championship match to a strong Dallas Jesuit High School team that, like Westlake, took an undefeated record into the finals. Although taking second in the State was not what the local ruggers wanted, they played well enough to qualify for the Western Regional Championship Tournament in Fort Worth next weekend.
The action started at Burr Field in Austin on Saturday when Westlake took on the defending State champs, Houston’s St. Thomas High School. With the wind at their backs, the squad from Houston scored first with an early penalty kick. Westlake roared back and evened the score when Evan Von Zur Muehlen converted a penalty kick against the wind.
Strong rucking from a Westlake scrum led by Colin Harmon and Sebastian Medina moved the ball deep into St. Thomas territory and the Westlake backs took good advantage of the opportunity when scrum half Connor McNally scooped up the ball on a loose ruck, broke through the St. Thomas defenders and vaulted across the try line for Westlake’s first try of the tournament.
Unfortunately for the Chaps, St. Thomas immediately answered with a try of its own and tacked on a conversion kick as well. When the referee whistled the end of the half, the locals were down 10-8.
But Westlake took good advantage of the wind in the second half. Fly half Markham Sayers’ timely punts kept the ball on St. Thomas’ side of the field. Superior tackling, especially from outside center Adam Bartling, and Jordan Cox, and Westlake’s team speed gradually wore the defenders down. Wing Alex Lokken fielded a kick and scored on a breakaway midway through the period and, after he also nailed the conversion kick, Westlake led by a mere five points, 15-10.
With time winding down and St. Thomas’ scrum bottling up the ball at midfield, the Westlake faithful were fearful that another St. Thomas score would not leave enough time for the Chaps to answer. But with about 5 minutes remaining in the match, full back James Robison took control. After fielding a St. Thomas punt, he unleashed a massive kick from midfield that sent the ball careening into the try zone. He then outraced the St. Thomas defenders to down the ball for another Westlake score. Robison scored again with about two minutes remaining when he got free on a breakaway and outraced several exhausted St. Thomas defenders to the try line.
Although the 25-10 victory over defending champs St. Thomas on Saturday was sweet, it had been costly. Westlake would be without the services of its All American eight man, Evan Von Zur Muehlen and outside center, Adam Bartling, on Sunday. Both were injured in the St. Thomas match and would not suit up for Sunday’s championship match.
Like Saturday’s match, Sunday afternoon’s championship match against the Dallas Jesuit Rangers was played under near perfect conditions: clear blue skies and warm temperatures with a stiff northerly breeze. Taking advantage of the wind, the Rangers scored first with long penalty kick.
But Westlake’s scrum battled back and intense rucking, especially by the Chaps’ second and third row, Charlie Copa, James Howe, Vince Dutton, Elis Glaw and Rogan Lye, pushed the ball into Dallas Jesuit’s territory. That’s when James Robison continued his scoring jag. He took a pass from Vince Costa, put a move on a Ranger defender, and raced to the try zone for his third score of the tournament.
At this point, a series of unfortunate penalties that can only be described as “character building” sent two of Westlake’s players to the sin bin for the bulk of the period. This meant that Westlake, who had already lost two of its starters in Saturday’s match, found itself playing two men down against a strong team that had the wind at their backs. Ultimately, that proved a hole too deep for even the Chaps to dig themselves out of. Jesuit racked up an additional 18 points in the period and led at the half 21-8.
Eric Wiggen converted a penalty kick for Westlake early in the second half but, other than that, it was all Jesuit. With Westlake substituting freely in anticipation of next weekend’s Western Regional Tournament, the Rangers made good on two penalty kicks and tacked on another try and a conversion to take the title match 31-8.
After the presentation of the winner’s trophy, and after Westlake collected its second place plaque, Coach Al Niece addressed the team. Although he acknowledged that it was disappointing not to bring home the state title, he told the team to be proud of what it accomplished. The program is only in its second year. To have advanced this far this early was unprecedented. Coach Niece also reminded the team that nine of its players had been named All District and six had been named to the All State team. Then he told them that preparation for next weekend’s tournament would begin on Monday.
Charles Vermont